BELLARINE CLASSICS
Based in Ocean Grove since 2013 after both having international performing careers, Mark Kruger and Sally Wilson identified the need for a grand piano on the Bellarine Peninsula in a venue that would be commercially viable to artists. Having such an instrument would attract quality musicians to perform in the area and provide a venue suitable for community groups.
With the assistance of the Barwon Heads Arts Council (BHAC), they achieved this goal in 2024. The BHAC permanently houses the Yamaha grand in the Barwon Heads Arts Hub and makes it available for hire on an ongoing basis.
Bellarine Classics is Mark and Sally's way of contributing to the community and enriching the musical life of the Bellarine Peninsula by bringing musicians from around Australia to Barwon Heads.
Mark Kruger, piano
Mark Kruger is a laureate of the Orleans International Piano Competition and his performances have been acclaimed around the world. His Spanish debut was hailed by El Pais as “brilliant both technically and musically… it was the revelation of a great artist”, The Times in London described his performance of the ‘Concord’ Sonata by Charles Ives as “hugely impressive” whilst his performance of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto in Melbourne was hailed by The Age as “masterful”.
Studies at the Qld Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne (Doctorate of Musical Arts), the Moscow State Conservatoire and Royal Academy of Music, London all led to appearances on television and radio in Europe, Canada, Asia and Australia.
Mark Kruger has an extensive and varied repertoire at his command. Central to his programmes are large scale works from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, some of which are rarely performed. Amongst these are Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata and Chopin’s renowned 24 Etudes He is also closely associated with the works of Sergei Prokofiev, and was the Artistic Director of ABC Classic FM’s “Melbourne Prokofiev Project”, a series of live broadcasts dedicated to the composer which contained the complete piano sonatas.
He is also professionally active in finance with a degree from the London School of Economics and being a CFA Charterholder. He has worked in Big 4 consulting and is now a mortgage broker and financial advisor with his own company MoneyRocket.
Sally Wilson, soprano
Soprano, Sally Wilson, has performed as a soloist in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia and Australia for over thirty years in opera, concert, and recital, and has several recordings to her name.
She has sung at The Washington Opera, Munich Biennale, Lincoln Centre (New York), Ravinia Festival (Chicago), Wigmore Hall (London), Berliner Konzerthaus, Oper Bonn and Aldeburgh Festival and with ensembles such as the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Recherche, Chicago Symphony Chamber Players and the Polish National Radio Symphony to name just a few.
An award winner in several national and international competitions, in 2013 Sally returned to Australia where, in addition to performing commitments, she’s a go-to mentor and coach for performing artists, helping them liberate their potential. She’s also an artist, illustrator and children’s book author, also incorporating music into her stories.
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